WB: Rabindra Bharati University VC resigns over 'vulgar' distortion of Tagore at Basanta Utsav

In the latest update regarding the controversy over the 'vulgar' distortion of a Tagore song, the Vice-Chancellor of the Rabindra Bharati University (RBU), Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury, gave his resignation on Friday evening accepting moral responsibility for the fiasco.

The fiery controversy had erupted in West Bengal two days earlier when some female students at the Rabindra Bharati university campus in Kolkata were photographed with a set of words, painted on their bare backs with colours (aabir). The words are being said to be an intentional 'distortion' of a much-referenced line from a famous Rabindrasangeet, '...chaand uthechhilo gogon-ey (the moon rose high in the sky). In this choice of text, however, the line was prefixed with a word that is frequently hurled as abuse in colloquial Bengali to refer to the male genital organ.

On Saturday, news agency PTI reported, citing "highly placed" sources at the varsity, that the VC had owned responsibility for the incident and sent his resignation letter in a sealed envelope to the higher education department head office at Bikash Bhavan and Chancellor-Governor Jagdeep Dhankar on Friday evening. Higher Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, however, told reporters that he had "heard" about Ray Chaudhury's resignation letter but informed that it will not be accepted by the West Bengal government.

"I am yet to get his resignation letter. But I heard the news. I will talk to him tomorrow. He is an emotional person. Why should he alone take responsibility? He will be asked to continue," PTI quoted the minister.

The controversial incident reportedly took place during the Basanta Utsav (Spring festival, pre-Holi celebrations) festivities on the campus. Some male students, it is said, coloured the lines on the women's backs 'in jest'. The act is being called 'obscene' and 'vulgar' by many, while others are calling it an expression free will and non-conformity to traditional artistic expressions.

Since then, controversies flared on social media regarding the action of the young students. As Bengali intelligentsia lay divided on whether to defend the 'distortion of Tagore's legacy' or to 'celebrate the free expression of art, even if it is apparently vulgar', people hit out at each other over their stance in such a situation.

The university VC had earlier said that the incident was an attempt to malign the name of the institution "by some people who cannot be out students."

"We are trying to ascertain who was behind the act and strict action will be taken against them. We have to decide whether to regulate the entry of outsiders to our campuses during the Basanta Utsav," he had said.

Indeed, as controversies ignited, several pointed out that this act was especially condemnable as it was done on the campus of Rabindra Bharati University, which, according to most Bengalis, is a sacred place dedicated to the legendary poet near his home (Thakurbari) at Jorasanko. 

Noted Rabindra Sangeet exponent Sraboni Sen demanded strict punishment for the people who "tarnished the name of Rabindra Bharati and played havoc with the pure and pristine spirit of the icon's songs".

"This is a very sad day. We never expected this would happen in the land of Tagore, in the university associated with research on the bard," eminent linguist Nrisingoprasad Bhaduri said.

However, RBU students said none of them from the two campuses -- Jorasanko and B T Road -- were involved in the incident.

"It has come to our knowledge that the vulgar act was done by five students who had come from a college in Hooghly district to participate in the celebrations. We want strict action against them as they have maligned the RBU's name," Tiyasha Dey, a post-graduate student in the visual arts department, said.

State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said those behind the incident crossed "all limits of decency".

"It is shocking that someone would think about committing such an act in a cultural festival at a place associated with the name of Tagore. This is also against the heritage of Bengal," he told reporters earlier in the day.

A complaint had earlier been lodged by the university at the Sinthi Police Station to probe the incident.